999

The 999 racer was an engineering feat for its time. Power came from an inline four-cylinder engine, displacing 1,155.3 cubic inches and developing somewhere in the neighborhood of 70-100 horsepower. The flywheel alone weighed 230 pounds and was connected to the rear axle through a wooden-block clutch and a solid driveshaft that mated to an unsealed and dry ring-and-pinion gear to transmit its power to the rear wheels.

The driver steered with an iron bar that pivoted in the middle, and there was no rear suspension. Also, both the crankshaft and valve gear were exposed, so the driver not only was jolted by every ripple in the road, but also was continually sprayed by oil.

Old 16

“America has at last come into its own. An American car, designed by an American, built by Americans in an American factory, of American material, and driven by an American, finally won America’s classic contest in this the fourth year of the stubborn perseverance of Americans to place American cars on a speed level with the product of Europe.”

The Automobile, October 29, 1908

The “American car” referred to above is the Locomobile racer known to antique car collectors and fans as “Old 16.” The “classic contest” it won in 1908 was America’s first great international auto race, the Vanderbilt Cup, held on Long Island, New York.

Long island

About

The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.